City Of Austin Hosts Webinar Series To Increase Skills, Knowledge

AUSTIN, TX—The City of Austin and its Economic Development Department will host several webinars for the community. The online events are opportunities to increase your skills and knowledge on a range of topics from marketing basics to tax deductions for your home office and vehicle, the webinars are easily accessible and able to be enjoyed from the comfort of home. For upcoming webinars, see the list below. For details, click on the individual links provided, and for a complete list of events click HERE

Friday, April 23 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This class covers five essentials to marketing your small business that has proven success with businesses like yours. This class gives you tips, tricks, and best practices to succeed without wasting valuable time and money. The class covers these 5 essentials for small business marketing, including how to:

1. Understand your customers better and sell more to them
2. Know your competition and out-market them (even if they are bigger than you)
3. Know and own your business/product/service value in the mind of the customer
4. Know what marketing works and doesn’t for you and why
5. Know how to adapt, improvise and overcome any obstacles

This class is one of the highest-rated classes in our series and one you won’t want to miss.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification.

Human Resources Basic - Webinar

Wednesday, April 28 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This class will be held on Zoom. This is an all-day class, with a one-hour lunch.

Learn the basics before you hire that first employee or independent contractor including what records you need to have thereafter. Topics covered include Independent contract vs. Employee; record-keeping requirements; overtime wages; taxable and non-taxable fringe benefits.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification.

Business Coaching Hour

Monday, May 3 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

A sounding board to bounce around ideas and brainstorm.

Do you need a business coach or mentor? According to the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), 75 percent of business executives point to mentorship or coaching as having played a significant role in their success. This is especially true if you are a sole proprietor. Working with one mentor or coach immediately doubles your team’s size, giving you access to a sounding board, brainstorming partner, and confidant. Potential benefits of coaching include thinking more strategic about your business, identifying new opportunities, access a coach’s network and contacts, avoiding common pitfalls, and increased knowledge around marketing, management and finances.
Register to receive confidential one-on-one coaching from experts who can help put you on the right path. Each session is 15 minutes with a coach in the following areas:

• Small Business
• Creatives
• Cooperatives
• Funding

Home Office Tax Deductions and Your Vehicle - Do You Qualify? —Webinar

Monday, May 3 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate and recognize Small Business Week, May 3-7, 2021.

Working from home can reduce your tax liability but is it the best decision for you and your family? Not renting an office can save a lot of money, but can you stay focused, or will you become distracted by household chores or neighbors dropping by? How do the IRS rules for a home office affect your tax deduction for the business use of your vehicle? In this workshop, we will discuss the pros and cons of working from home including the physical and emotional boundaries of a home office and the interrelationship of your tax-deductible vehicle expense. This a virtual instructor-led webinar and will be on the Zoom platform.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification.

State of Small Business in Austin, Small Business Awards & Panel Discussion

Monday, May 3 from 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Join us as we celebrate and recognize Small Business Week, May 3-7, 2021.

Austin small businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19. As a kickoff to Small Business Week, keynote speaker Jon Hockenyos, founder and president of TXP, an Austin-based economic analysis, and public policy strategy firm, will present data on Austin’s current economic climate. He will cover how various industry sectors are performing and are expected to perform in the near-term (6-12 mos.) and beyond. Jon’s presentations are relatable and valuable and allot time for attendee questions.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., the Small Business Division will honor local small businesses that have successfully pivoted during the pandemic. Following the awards, there will be a panel discussion with three honorees to talk about how they pivoted and offer tips to businesses.